KOLKATA: They might not have a single elected representative in any panchayat, forget parliament. Nevertheless the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) hopes to gain from the chaos over the Indo-US nuclear deal.

That is because the key to winning any seat in the hills lies with the Gorkha movement. Earlier, the Subhas Ghising-led Gorkha National Liberation Front’s support was crucial, now the GJM has usurped the role. Darjeeling sends one member to the Lok Sabha. It has seven assembly constituencies. GJM spokesman Roshan Giri said they were not concerned with the N-deal: “Our headache is Gorkhaland and whoever supports us is our friend.”

A GJM delegation recently warned Congress MP from Darjeeling, Dawa Narbula, that if he voted for the UPA without prior written commitment from the PM for Gorkhaland, he wouldn’t be able to enter the hills.r_sumanta@dnaindia.net (DNA)

Kolkata, July 16 (PTI) The GJM today asked Congress MP from Darjeeling Dawa Narbula to vote for the UPA government “only if the Centre makes a commitment on the creation of a separate Gorkhaland state.” “GJM president Bimal Gurung has categorically told this to Narbula over telephone today,” Gorkha Janmukti Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri told PTI over phone from Darjeeling.
The MP had been elected by the hill people and it is his “bounden duty” to work for the cause of the Gorkhaland, he said.

“We want him to vote for the UPA government in the July 22 trust vote only if there is commitment by the Centre on the creation of Gorkhaland; otherwise he should not vote in favour of the government.” Asked what the GJM would if he did not adhere to Gurung’s ‘instruction’, Giri said, “People should not allow him to enter Darjeeling.” Narbula who was elected to the Lok Sabha from Darjeeling on a Congress ticket in 2004 was not available for comment. PTI